Apparatus for separating oil from coolant liquids



Nov. 3, 1953 A. M. SARGENT 2,658,040

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING OIL FROM COOLANT LIQUIDS Filed June 29, 1950 2 Sheets-Sht 1 AF? A? Nov. 3, 1953 A. M. SARGENT 2,658,040

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING OIL. FROM COOLANT LIQUIDS Filed June 29, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /d/ .95 IE- 4 //J /J A I N V EN TOR. fi/Z @72 /.7 6 4776772 Patented Nov. 3, 1953 APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING OIL FROM COOLANT LIQUIDS Albert Marden Sargent, Detroit, Mich., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Detroit Harvester Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application July 29, 1950, Serial No. 176,626

6 Claimsi This invention relates to new and useful improvements in apparatus for separating immisciblo liquids.

There are many industrial installations where immiscible liquids become mixed together and must be separated before either or both are capable of re-use. One situation where this problem is particularly acute is in the case of coolant liquids for automatic machine tools and the like. The coolant liquid usually is pumped to the machine from a suitable sump or tank, and liquid from the machine drains back to the tank to continually replenish the supply. This liquid becomes contaminated with oil relatively quickly and the contaminant soon renders it unsuitable for its intended purpose.

Heretofore this liquid has been disposed of more or less universally by way of municipal sewagedisposal systems. However, stream-pollution legislation recently enacted in most of the States makes it unlawful to dispose of oil contaminated coolant liquids in this manner. Also, disposal of the contaminated coolant liquids represents a loss of both the coolant liquid and of the contaminating oil.

I have now developed a complete, self-contained unit for immiscible liquids which is primarily adapted and pre-eminently suited for separating contaminating oil from coolant liquid. The unit is uniquely constructed so that it can be connected directly into the liquid supply and disposal lines of a conventional coolant liquid installation. It is a feature of the invention that the unit is compact so that it occupies a minimum of space and can be readily adapted to a particular installation even though the available space is limited.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification and wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same;

Fig, l is a perspective View showing the front and one side of apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the back and one side of the same;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, transverse, sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional View taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the. numeral l6 designates a generally rectangular, boxlike housing having a front [2, a back [4, sides It and I8, a bottom 20, and a removable cover 22. Suitable ventilator panels 24 and 26 are provided in the front and back of the housing, and these panels preferably are hinged, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to permit ready access to be had to the lower portion of the housing.

Within the housing are vertical partitions 28 and 30 which extend from front to back and parallel to the ends I6 and I8. The partitions 28 and 3!] define relatively narrow chambers 32 and 34 at opposite sides of the housing H] in, which various pipes and electrical wiring necessary for the installation are placed. At approximately the middle of the housing H] is a horizontal wall 36 which extends between the front and back l2 and i4 and partitions 28 and 30 to define a tank 38 in the upper portion of the housing. The wall 36 comprises the bottom of the tank 38 and it preferably is dished as shown in Fig. 4, so that all the contents of the tank gravitate to a drainpipe 48 fastened to and extending downwardly from the lowest part of the bottom. A handoperated valve 42 controls drainpipe 40.

The portion of housing I 0 below tank 38 is fur ther divided by vertical, transverse partitions 44 and 46 into a middle settling chamber 48 and two side chambers 50 and 52. The partitions 44 and 46 are disposed parallel to the ends of housing [8 and are welded or otherwise fastened to the walls of the housing to provide fluidtight chambers.

Liquid to be separated is charged to the middle chamber 48 through pipe 54 controlled by a solenoid-operated valve 56 and a manually-operated valve 58. Manifestly, the valve 58 can be adjusted to control the rate of flow and consequently the pressure of liquid admitted to the chamber 48. As perhaps best shown in Fig. 4, the pipe 54 extends into the housing through an opening in the back wall 54 upwardly to the desired height in the side chamber or duct 34 and the discharge end thereof extends downwardly into chamber 48 adjacent to partition 46. Liquid discharged from pipe 54 is deflected and spread by a bafile 60 which extends horizontally across the middle chamber 48 from front to back thereof and is supported at its ends by studs 62 extending inwardly from the front and rear walls l2 and I 4. Thus, the baflle 6B is adjustable about a horizontal axis and wing nuts 84 threaded on the studs 62 hold the bathe in a selected adjusted position.

As suggested, the primary purpose of the baffle 60 is to prevent incoming liquid from churning and agitating liquid already in the chamber 48. The ideal condition is for the baffle to collect the liquid charged to the chamber 48 and permit it to flow evenly and uniformly over one or both edges thereof. In this manner the incoming liquid is introduced with minimum turbulence into the liquid in chamber 48 and the separated condition of the liquids in the chamber will be aifected as little as possible. If desired, the ends of baflie 60 can be slotted or otherwise formed so that the bafiie is universally adjustable both vertically and about a horizontal axis to compensate for irregularities in the floor on which the tank is supported or other factors which might influence proper flow of liquid into the chamber 48. In most installations the apparatus handles a fairly constant volume of liquid,

and once the bafiie 60 has been adjusted, it need not be changed unless some part of the installation is changed so as to affect the volume of liquid handled thereby. Of course, in some installations, where the volume of liquid handled by the apparatus varies considerably, it may be necessary to change the position of baflie 60 from time to time.

For purpose of illustration the apparatus is described specifically as adapted to separate oil and coolant liquid in installations of the type hereinabove referred to. It will be understood, however, that the apparatus can be adapted to a variety of installations and to a number of different installations where two or more immiscible liquids must be separated. In the particular il lustration here under consideration the pipe 54 is connected either directly to the sump or tank in which coolant is collected or to the pipe which carries liquid to or from the sump. The liquid may be caused to flow through pipe 54 in any suitable manner as by a mechanical pump or by gravity. In installations of the type here specifically considered the coolant liquid settles to the bottom of chamber 48, and the oil forms a supernatant top layer on the coolant liquid. Hereinafter the two liquids will be referred to as oil and coolant liquid respectively. It will be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to these two liquids and that they are specifically referred to herein merely by way of illustration. As suggested above, the invention is broader in its scope and the apparatus can be used to separate mixtures of any liquids which are immiscible.

The top layer of oil spills into the side compartment 50 over a weir 66 mounted for vertical adjustment across a notch or recess 68 in the upper edge of partition 44 (Figs. 4 and 5). A screw 18 carried by partition 44 extends through a vertically elongated slot 12 in the weir 66, and a wing nut 14 on the end of the screw can be tightened against the weir to hold the same in a selected adjusted position. The weir 66 is positioned so that the top layer of liquid in chamber 48 spills over it into the side chamber 50.

In normal operation, liquid is introduced more or less continuously into the settling chamber 48 and some agitation of the liquid is bound to occur. It is absolutely essential, therefore, in order to permit the unit to function efliciently as a commercial installation, to provide means for preventing the incoming stream from interfering with proper separation of the emulsified components and from disturbing the liquid components after separation. In order for the unit to be commercially practicable, it is absolutely essential that relatively clear liquid of relatively lighter specific gravity be drawn off the top of the chamber 48 and that equally clear liquid of relatively heavy specific gravity be withdrawn from the lower part of the chamber.

According to the present invention, the above results are accomplished by extending the discharge end of the inlet pipe 54 below the upper edge of the weir 66, viz., below the normal level of liquid in chamber 48 and, further, by positioning the discharge end of inlet pipe 54 directly above the bafiie 60. By reason of the valve 58, liquid can be introduced into the chamber at a controlled volume and at a controlled pressure and by reason of the particular relationship of the parts hereinabove specified liquid in proper volume and at proper pressure can be introduced into the chamber with minimum agitation. It is essential that the liquid be introduced below the level of liquid. Otherwise it splashes and churns the liquid already settled and utterly prevents the emulsified constituents from separating as long as liquid is being introduced. However, if the liquid is introduced below the level of liquid in chamber 48 in the manner shown, minimum agitation occurs. The incoming stream cuts down through the relatively quiescent liquid already in chamber 48 and impinges against the bafiie 68. The baflle then diffuses and disseminates the liquid stream into the chamber 48. Also, the baflie 60 controls the directional flow of the incoming liquid. By properly adjusting the baffle 60 it is possible to raise or lower the area in which the greatest dissemination takes place without disturbing the inertia or separation equilibrium of liquid components already broken into separate layers in the chamber. Further, the angle of adjustment of the baffle 60 can be made to conform to and complement the function of the adjustable weir 66 by controlling both the speed and the directional flow of liquid discharged by the baffle.

The coolant liquid or bottom layer of liquid in settling tank 48, on the other hand, spills over partition 46 and accumulates in the other side chamber 52. To assure essentially pure coolant liquid in chamber 52, a separate L-shaped partition 16 is mounted in the settling chamber 48 between front and back walls l2 and I4. The horizontal flange 18 of partition 16 is spaced above the bottom 20, as shown in Fig. 4, and the vertical flange thereof is spaced inwardly from partition 46. This arrangement provides a generally L-shaped passage 82 which opens into the bottom of chamber 48 and onto the upper edge of partition 46. Separated coolant liquid in chamber 48 enters passage 82 and rises to a height where it is balanced by the column or body of liquid in chamber 48.

In general, it will be readily appreciated that the level of liquid in chamber 48 will be higher than the level of liquid in the L-shaped passage 82 due to the fact that the intermediate chamber contains at least two layers of liquids, one having a relatively heavy specific gravity and the other having a relatively light specific gravity; while the passage 82 contains only the relatively heavy liquid. The difference between the liquid levels will vary depending upon the specific gravities of the liquids comprising the several layers and also upon the relative proportions of the liquids in the layers. The ideal condition is for the top layer of liquid in chamber 48 to just spill over the weir 66 and for the bottom layer of liquid in passage 82 to just spill over the partition 46. In order to achieve this condition the weir 66 is adjusted vertically of the partition 44 until it is just below the normal liquid level in chamber 48. Where the relative proportions of the liquids delivered to the apparatus is essentially constant, very little if any adjustment of the weir 66 is required after it has been properly set.

Mounted on a supporting bracket 84 and in the side chamber 5i) is a pump 86 having an operating motor 38 controlled by a float 98. As shown in Fig. 4, the pump 86 is disposed adjacent to the bottom of chamber 50 and the float 9B is disposed in the chamber immediately above the pump.

In operation, it is not desirable to operate pump 86 continuously as, under normal operating conditions and particularly under the conditions for which this apparatus is primarily designed, the amount of liquid delivered to chamber 50 is small compared to the amount of liquid delivered to chamber 52. Accordingly, in the apparatus here shown by way of illustration, the pump 85 is operated only intermittently when the level of liquid in chamber 56 rises sufiiciently to justify operation of the pump. Under other conditions where a greater proportion of liquid is delivered to chamber 5!! it might be feasible of course to operate pump continuously. In any event, in the installation here shown, the pump 86 remains idle until sufficient liquid accumulates in chamber 59 to operate float as. The latter then closes a circuit through motor 88 according to conventional practice, to operate the pump. Liquid in chamber is drawn into the inlet 92 of pump 86 and discharged through pipe 96 which extends to the top of the housing- IE! into tank 38 as shown in the drawing. The pump continues to operate until float 9B lowers sufficiently to again open the circuit through motor 88. Thus, oil in chamber 50 is periodically transferred to tank 38 by pump 86 and the latter is automatic in operation to move the oil whenever it has accumulated in sufiicient quantity.

From time to time, oil is withdrawn from the tank 38 through a faucet 96. In this connection it will be observed that the housing It? is formed with an opening 98 in front of the faucet 56 so that ready access may be had to the faucet.

Opening es normally is closed by a hinged cover H36. Preferably, the end of faucet 96 is threaded as at I82 for connection with a hose or pipe (not shown) by means of which the oil can be carried to a container or other suitable place of disposal. Any coolant liquid carried over into tank 33 with the oil accumulates in the bottom of the tank and is returned from time to time to the settling chamber 48 for reprocessing through drainpipe 49. Faucet 96 preferably is located substantially above the bottom of the tank 38 so that essentially pure oil is Withdrawn therefrom. The level of oil is prevented from rising sufficiently to spill over the top of tank 38 by an overflow pipe I04 which connects with the tank adjacent but below the top thereof and discharges into the settling tank 48 as shown in Fig. 4.

Coolant liquid is removed periodically from tank 52 by a pump I which is supported adjacent the bottom of the chamber on a mounting I bracket I05. The pump motor I08 is disposed in the housing Iii above the chamber and it can be energized in any suitable or conventional manner. In the installation here shown, the pump IE5 is operated continuously to drain liq- 6 uid from chamber 52. Coolant enters the pump through inlet Ill! and discharges therefrom through pipe H2 which extends exteriorly Of the tank as shown in Fig. 2. Pipe H2 conveniently may lead back to the sump (not shown) or to any other suitable place of disposal.

In installations of the type here described, coolant liquid accumulates in substantially greater volume than the oil; and in order to prevent the apparatus from being overloaded by an unexpected increase in the volume of liquid being handled, a float H4 is mounted in chamber 52, and the float operates valve 56 to control flow of liquid through inlet pipe 54. Thus, the float H4 and valve 56 is merely a safety measure to prevent flooding of the area in the vicinity of the apparatus in the event more liquid is delivered to the apparatus than it is capable of handling. If liquid is charged to chamber 52 faster than it can be removed by pump )5, the level of liquid in the chamber eventually will raise float Ilfl sufficiently to close valve 56. Manifestly the float and valve are adjusted so that the valve is closed before the level of liquid rises sufiiciently to overflow the chamber 52. When valve 53 is closed, delivery of liquid .to the chamber 48 is prevented and the inlet pipe is shut 01f until pump I05 has lowered the level-of liquid in chamber 52 sufficiently to lower float H4 and again operate valve 56. Obviously, in normal operation it is not desirable for the float lid to be constantly opening and closing valve 56 and it is intended that the apparatus be equipped with pump I05 which is large enough to take care of the volume of liquid handled by the apparatus. The float-operated valve 56 is intended merely as an emergency device which will take care of some unexpected or unforseeable occasion when liquid is delivered to the apparatus in excess of its capacity.

In some installations it maybe necessary for the apparatus to handle more than two layers of liquids and there are many types of installations in which two or more liquids may be contained either in miscible or emulsified form in the several layers. It will be readily apparent in this connection that the apparatus will function in any situation where there are separate upper and lower layers of liquids regardless of whether there is one or a plurality of individual liquids in each layer.

When handling certain types of liquid it may be necessary or desirable to introduce acid or other substance into the chamber 48 to assist in breaking the emulsion of liquids charged to the chamber or to assure that the liquids separate in a particular predetermined manner. Usually in continuously operating equipment of the type here under consideration, the emulsion-breaking agent is merely dripped or otherwise fed slowly into the settling chamber. To this end, a partition H6 having a bottom H8 and a removable cover i211 is provided in the side compartment 32 to define a chamber H2 in which the emulsionbrealting agent can be contained. The agent is delivered at a desired rate into the settling chamber 48 through a pipe and the delivery pipe is controlled by a valve l2'il. By properly adjusting the valve I 26, the rate at which the emulsionbreaking agent is delivered to the settling chamber 48 can be easily controlled and, if desired, flow of the agent to the chamber can be shut ofi altogether. Preferably valve I26 is located substantially on the same level as panels 25 so that it is readily accessible from outside the housing.

liquids to be separated into said middle chamber,

the latter comprising a settling chamber in which the liquids separate into separate layers, valve means in said inlet pipe for controlling the rate of flow and consequently the pressure of liquid introduced into said middle chamber, a container in the housing above said settling chamber adapted to contain a liquid for breaking an emulsion of liquids in the settling chamber and provided with a valve-controlled discharge pipe for delivering liquid from the container to the settling chamber, a baffle in said middle chamber directly below the discharge end of said inlet pipe for deflecting and spreading the liquid as it enters the chamber, said baffle being universally adjustable to compensate for irregularities in the surface on which the apparatus is supported and also to accommodate varying amounts of liquid charged to the chamber, one of said partitions having an opening therein through which the top layer of liquid enters one side chamber, a vertically adjustable weir on the partition and movable across said opening, said weir having an upper edge over which liquid spills from said settling chamber, said inlet pipe extending below the upper edge of said weir so as to introduce liquid into said settling chamber below the level of liquid therein, a tank in the upper portion of the housing, means for pumping liquid from one side chamber into the tank controlled by the level trolled outlet for the tank located substantially above the bottom thereof, means for conducting liquid from the bottom of the settling chamber into the other of said side chambers, means for pumping liquid from said other side chamber,

and a float-operated valve in said inlet pipe arranged with the float in said other side chamber and operative to shut off flow through the inlet pipe automatically when liquid in said other side chamber rises to a predetermined level.

2. Apparatus for handling and separating mixtures of immiscible liquids comprising a housing having a pair of spaced, vertical partitions defining a middle and two side chambers in the housing, an inlet pipe for introducing liquid to be separated into said middle chamber, the latter comprising a settling chamber in which the liquids separate into separate layers, an adjustable bafile in the middle chamber directly below the discharge end of said inlet pipe for deflecting and spreading the liquid as it enters the chamber, one of said partitions having an opening therein through which the top layer of liquid enters one side chamber, a vertically adjustable weir on the partition and movable across said opening, said weir having an upper edge over which liquid spills from said settling chamber, said inlet pipe extending below the upper edge of said weir so as to introduce liquid in said settling chamber below the level of liquid therein, a tank in the upper portion of the housing, means for pumping liquid from said one side chamber into the tank, a drainpipe in the bottom of the tank and an overflow pipe in the top of the tank both discharging into said settling chamber, a valve- 8 controlled outlet for the tank located substantially above the bottom thereof, means for conducting liquid from the bottom of the settling chamber into the other of said side chambers, means for pumping liquids from said other side chamber, and a float-operated valve in said inlet pipe arranged with the float in said other side chamber and operative to shut off flow through the inlet pipe automatically when liquid in said other side chamber rises to a predetermined level.

3. Apparatus for handling and separating mixtures of immiscible liquids comprising a housing having a pair of spaced, vertical partitions defining a middle and two side chambers in the housing, an inlet pipe having a discharge end. arranged to introduce liquids to be separated downwardly into said middle chamber, a baflle in the middle chamber directly below the discharge end of the inlet pipe for deflecting and spreading the liquid as it enters the chamber so that the liquids settle therein and separate into separate layers, one of said partitions having an opening therein through which the top layer of liquid enters one side chamber, a vertically adjustable Weir on the partition and movable across said opening, said weir having an upper edge over which liquid spills from said settling chamber, said inlet pipe extending below the upper edge of said weir so as to introduce liquid in said settling chamber below the level of liquid therein, a tank in the upper portion of the housing, means for pumping liquid from said one side chamber into said tank, a drainpipe in the bottom of the tank and an overflow pipe at the top of the tank both discharging into said middle chamber, a valvecontrolled outlet for the tank located substantially above the bottom thereof, means for conducting liquids from the bottom of the middle chamber into the other of said side chambers, means for pumping liquids from said other side chamber, and a float-operated valve in said inlet pipe arranged with the float in said other side chamber and operative to shut off flow through the inlet pipe automatically when liquid in said other side chamber rises to a predetermined level.

4. Apparatus for handling and separating mixtures of immiscible liquids comprising a housing having a pair of spaced, vertical partitions defining a middle and two side chambers in the housing, an inlet pipe having a discharge end arranged to introduce liquids to be separated downwardly into said middle chamber, a battle in the middle chamber directly below the discharge end of the inlet pipe for deflecting and spreading the liquid as it enters the chamber so that the liquids settle therein and separate into separate layers, one of said partitions having an opening therein through which the top layer of liquid enters one side chamber, a vertically adjustable weir on the partition and movable across said opening, said weir having an upper edge over which liquid spills from said settling chamber, said inlet pipe extending below the upper edge of said weir so as to introduce liquid in said settling chamber below the level of liquid therein, a tank in the upper portion of the housing, means for pumping liquid from said one side chamber into said tank, a drainpipe in the bottom of the tank and an overflow pipe at the top of the tank both discharging into said middle chamber, a valve-controlled outlet for the tanklocated substantially above the bottom thereof, means for conducting liquids from the bottom of the middle chamber into the other of said side chambers, and means for pumping liquids from said other side chamber.

5. Apparatus for handling and separating mixtures of immiscible liquids comprising a housing having a pair of spaced, vertical partitions definin a middle and two side chambers in the lower portion of the housing, an inlet pipe for introducing liquids to be separated into said middle chamber, the latter comprising a settling chamber in which the liquids separate into separate layers, a battle in the middle chamber directly below the discharge end of said inlet pipe for deflecting and spreading the liquid as it enters the chamber, vertically adjustable means on the partition which separates the settling chamber from one side chamber for regulating the level at which the top layer of liquid spills into said one side chamber, said inlet pipe extending below said adjustable means so as to introduce liquid into the middle chamber below the normal level of liquid therein, a tank in the upper portion of the housing, means for pumping liquids from said one side chamber into said tank, a valve-controlled outlet for said tank, means for conducting liquid from the bottom of the settling chamber into the other of said side chambers, means for pumping liquid from said other side chamber, and a float-operated valve in said inlet pipe arranged with the float in said other side chamber and operative to shut off flow through the inlet pipe automatically when liquid in said other side chamber rises to a predetermined level.

6. Apparatus for handling and separating mixtures of immiscible liquids comprising a housing having a middle and two side chambers therein, an inlet pipe for introducing liquids to be separated into said middle chamber below the level of liquid therein, the latter comprising a settling chamber in which the liquids separate into separate layers, a bafile in the middle chamber directly below the discharge end of said inlet pipe for deflecting and spreading the liquid as it enters the chamber, means for transferring the upper layer of liquid into one side chamber, means for transferring the bottom layer of liquid into the other side chamber, a tank in the upper portion of the housing, means for transferring liquid from said one side chamber into said tank, a drainpipe in the bottom of the tank and an overflow pipe at the top of the tank both discharging into said middle chamber, a valve-controlled outlet for the tank located substantially above the bottom thereof, means for pumping liquid from said other side chamber, and a float-operated valve in said inlet pipe arranged with the float in said other side chamber and operative to shut oil flow through the inlet pipe automatically when liquid in said other side chamber rises to a predetermined level.

ALBERT MARDEN SARGENT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 745,519 Pravicha et al Dec. 1, 1903 995,521 Buhr June 20, 1911 1,009,857 Reisert Nov. 28, 1911 1,271,599 Messer July 9, 1918 1,367,652 Bannon et al. Feb. 8, 1921 1,921,279 Anderson Aug. 8, 1983 2,186,371 Dudin Jan. 9, 1940 2,330,508. Mc Coll Sept. 28, 1943 2,374,094 Harvout Apr. 17, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 517,977 Germany Feb. 12, 1931 

1. APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND SEPARATING MIXTURES OF IMMISCIBLE LIQUIDS COMPRISING A HOUSING HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED, VETICAL PARTITIONS DEFINING A MIDDLE AND TWO SIDE CHAMBERS IN THE HOUSING, AND INLET PIPE POSITINED TO INTRODUCE LIQUIDS TO BE SEPARATED INTO SAID MIDDLE CHAMBER, THE LATTER COMPRISING A SETTLING CHAMBER IN WHICH THE LIQUIDS SEPARATE INTO SEPARATE LAYERS, VALVE MEANS IN SAID INLET PIPE FOR CONTROLLING THE RATE OF FLOW AND CONSEQUENTLY THE PRESSURE OF LIQUID INTRODUCED INTO SAID MIDDLE CHAMBER, A CONTAINER IN THE HOUSING ABOVE SAID SETTLING CHAMBER ADAPTED TO CONTAIN A LIQUID FOR BREAKING AN EMULSION OF LIQUIDS IN THE SETTLING CHAMBER AND PROVIDED WITH A VALVE-CONTROLLED DISCHARGED PIPE FOR DELIVERING LIQUID FROM THE CONTAINER TO THE SETTLING CHAMBER, SAID BAFFLE IN SAID MIDDLE CHAMBER DIRECTLY BELOW THE DISHARGE END OF SAID INLET PIPE FOR DEFLECTING AND SPREADING THE LIQUIDS AS IT ENTERS THE CHAMER, AND BAFFLE BEING UNIVERSALLY ADJUSTABLE TO COMPENSATE FOR IRREGULARITIES IN THE SURFACE ON WHICH THE APPARATUS IS SUPPORTED AND ALSO TO ACCOMMODATE VARYING AMOUNTS OF LIQUID CHARGED TO THE CHAMBER, ONE OF SAID PARTITIONS HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN THROUGH WHICH THE TOP LAYER OF LIQUID ENTERS ONE SIDE CHAMBER, A VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE WEIR ON THE PARTITION AND MOVABLE ACROSS AND OPENING, SAID WEIR HAVING AN UPPER EDGE OVER WHICH LIQUID SPILLS FROM SAID SETTLING CHAMBER, SAID INLET PIPE EXTENDING BELOW THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID WEIR SO AS TO INTRODUCED LIQUID INTO SAID SETTLING CHAMBER BELOW THE LEVEL OF LIQUID THEREIN, A TANK IN THE UPPER PORTION OF THE HOUSING, MEANS FOR PUMPING LIQUID FROM ONE SIDE CHAMBER INTO THE TANK CONTROLED BY THE LEVEL OF LIQUID IN SAID ONE SIDE CHAMBER, A DRAINPIPE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK BOTH POSITIONED TO DISIN THE TOP OF THE TANK, BOTH POSITIONED TO DISCHARGED INTO SAID SETTLING CH AMBER, A VALVE-CONTROLLED OUTLET FOR THE TANK LOCATED SUBSTANTIALLY ABOVE THE BOTTOM THEREOF, MEANS FOR CONDUCTING LIQUID FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE SETTLING CHAMBER INTO THE OTHER OF SAID CHAMBERS MEANS FOR PUMPING LIQUID FROM SAID OTHER SIDE CHAMBEER, AND A FLOAT-OPERATED VALVE IN SAID INLET PIPE ARARRANGED WITH THE FLOAT IN SAID OTHER SIDE CHAMBER AND OPERATIVE TO SHUT OFF FLOW THROUGH THE INLET PIPE AUTOMATICALLY WHEN LIQUID IN SAID OTHER SIDE CHAMBER RISES TO A PREDETERMINED LEVEL. 